Daniel Charles "Dan" Miller

1954 - 2021

Daniel "Dan" Charles Miller
Dripping Springs - January 2, 1954 - May 18, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Daniel "Dan" Charles Miller. Dan passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at his home in Dripping Springs, Texas, after a five month battle with cancer.
Dan was born on January 2, 1954 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His father, Lloyd Eugene Miller, was a geologist for Sun Oil Company working in Calgary at the time. His mother, Rose Marie Rohan Miller (affectionately called "Winkie") was a stay-at-home mom and voracious reader. Dan was the youngest of four children. His siblings in order of oldest to youngest were Katy, Connie and Tim. Katy and Connie were born in the United States, and Tim and Dan in Canada.
Dan grew up and went to elementary, junior high and most of high school in Calgary. But while Dan was a junior in high school, Lloyd was transferred to Dallas, Texas and promoted as Sun Oil Company's head geologist for the lower 48 states. As a result, Dan attended J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas for his senior year. Dan moved to Austin in 1971 to attend the University of Texas at Austin. Dan graduated in May 1975 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Dan then entered law school at the University of Texas at Austin, completing his Juris Doctorate in 1977. Dan passed the bar exam and was admitted to practice law in Texas in May 1978.
Dan went to work as counsel for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts later that year and got to know then-Comptroller Bob Bullock, and continued that relationship when Bob Bullock assumed the role of Lieutenant Governor of the State of Texas. In 1981, Dan married Catherine Mitchell. Soon thereafter, when Dan left the Comptroller's office, Dan and Catherine traveled in Europe and North Africa for a while, returned to the States and spent more time touring the United States and parts of Canada. In 1984, Dan went to work for the Texas General Land Office. Initially, Dan managed the Oil & Gas Section of the Legal Division. Within a short time, Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro promoted Dan to Deputy Land Commissioner, leading the agency's Legal Division. During his tenure at the Texas General Land Office, Dan was responsible for spearheading many lawsuits brought by and against the Land Office, working with the Texas legislature to pass and defeat myriad legislation affecting the agency, getting to know many people involved in the oil and gas business.
In 1986, Dan and Catherine Miller had their only child, Steven Montana Malone Miller. In 1989, Dan left the Texas General Land Office to enter private practice with the law firm of McElroy & Sullivan. Founding partner Mike McElroy was a classmate of Dan's at UT law, and the experience and contacts Dan cultivated while working at the Texas General Land Office were a good fit for the regulatory practice areas in oil and gas that had been established by McElroy & Sullivan. Dan became a partner in the firm, and his name was added to the firm's marquee. Dan practiced law with the attorneys and staff at the firm for over thirty years.
Dan and Catherine divorced in 2008, and in March of 2009, Dan married Dora Chavez Miller. Dan and Dora remained married until his death. Dan is survived by his wife Dora, his son Steven Miller, his step-children, Jessica Chavez, Ilda Chavez, Christina Chavez and Oscar Chavez; his 11 step-grandchildren Anthony Ojeda, Krysta Ojeda, Daimien Recio, Angel Recio, Mercedes Recio, Meriah Recio, Jose Barrera, Jessie Montalvo, Ava Montalvo, Sammy Palacios and Nicholas Palacios, and one step great grandchild, Orlando Ibarra, Jr.
There will be no funeral service for Dan based on his wishes, and his family asks that well wishers donate to the American Cancer Society.